May 10th, 2026: Work As Christian Duty | Genesis 2:5, Exodus 20:9, John 5:17, John 9:4 , Acts 20:33-35, II Thessalonians 3:6-12

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

(1 Corinthians 15:27-28).

This lesson requires that we begin by defining our terms.  Often,  in the church world the word, “work” is associated with an act of earning salvation.  This is not the definition of work used in our lesson.  The only “work” that will earn us Heaven is the finished work of Jesus Himself and our acceptance of who He is and His plan of salvation.  For the purposes of this lesson, “work” is defined as our purposeful, Godly calling.  It is the responsibility of every man and woman to use the abilities and talents God has placed within us.  “Work” includes our jobs and the earning of our livelihood, but it means much more than that in God’s eyes.  Our works include our stewardship, providing for the needs of others, and everything we do to bring honor to God.  This kind of “work”  benefits the worker as well as everyone around them. It is the most valuable of the work that we do. 

Genesis 2:5

And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. 

From the very beginning God worked and proclaimed those works to be good.  Before the Fall  man could work alongside God, enjoying the abundance of a good creation and tending a garden that watered itself and had no weeds or thorns.  It was not until after the sin of Adam and Eve that we saw the cursing of the ground. After the Fall , men and women, toiled with sweat, experienced pain, and lived on an earth that required heavy work to yield a reward. Man was still required to work but sin had brought separation from God.  

Exodus 20:9

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 

Our God actually leads us not only by example but also by directive.    And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. (Genesis 2:2-3) God  wrote  about working and  rest in the law given to Moses.

  Many pagan religions asked for extreme labor, sacrifice and even death from their subjects. God created work and it is good, and God provided rest and it is a blessing given to men.  False religion thrives on man’s failures and demands more and more in payment for their error. Many feel that they cannot please God unless they wear themselves to a frazzle, even christians can convince themselves that this is true, but Jesus said, “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  The work He has for His children is for their good and for His glory.  It’s fulfilling and accompanied by rest both mentally and spiritually in the completed work of Christ.  God created a day of rest because He knew it was beneficial to his followers, Christ became our spiritual rest giving us the greatest of all gifts. 

Notice, these verses do not say that God “needed” rest. They state  that He ceased from His work.  God works by example, we are never asked to do what He has not first completed and modeled.  He ordained 6 days for work and  inserted  one day of rest. He commanded that we observe this as a sabbath knowing that the curse of sin would be heavy and that only Jesus would be able to pay our debt. Jesus is our Sabbath. 

John 5:17

 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 

Jesus was obedient to the Father.  His mission and work on earth was undivided from the heart and will of His father.  Jesus is one with God the Father.  He fulfilled the intentions of God from the beginning.  He would  heal the sick, raise the dead, and most importantly give himself as the perfect offering for all of mankind.  His work is our salvation. 

John 9:4

I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 

Jesus’s time on earth was short.  He was on a mission to the cross.  His resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit opened wide the age of the Church and salvation by Grace through Faith.  Judgement is rolled back from those who have the blood of Jesus applied to their lives.  We live in a time that is limited. One day the judgement and wrath of God will be on the earth.  Those who have rejected the gift of Christ will be eternally lost.  

The time for Jesus to do what He was sent here to do had an end.  Your ability to live and work for the Kingdom of God also has a time limit.  While we know that no amount of work could save us from judgement, we surrender our lives to Jesus who was able to do just that.  As Christ obeyed the father, we are called to obey Him, and His command is this: that we go into all the world and preach the gospel.  It is God’s will that “none perish.”  Jesus’ work taught Him obedience.  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;(Romans 5:8-9).  

The same is true for us.  We are only on the earth for a short period of time when compared to eternity.  We must use our abilities and share the news of Jesus (work), while we can.  There will come a time that we are no longer able to be of influence for good to those around us. Believers need to live on purpose and with eternity in mind.

Acts 20:33-35

 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

God also filled scripture with examples of godly workers that we may use to pattern our lives after. Luke records in the book of Acts the many works of the early church including the example of the apostle Paul.  Paul reminded the church that he never desired the wealth of the world.  His work was not to secure his wealth.  Paul shared that those around him had seen the  work he was doing- they were eye witnesses.  He encouraged them to remember the words of Jesus.  Though the labor is hard the purpose is to share Jesus through actions and attitudes. 

2 Thessalonians 3: 6-12

Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

Paul writing to the church of Thessalonica instructed that our livelihoods and our pattern of living speaks volumes to the lost world.  A christian employee should be hardworking, honest, trustworthy, and an encouragement to others.  We are not to behave in ways that make others doubt the Lord, but in ways that draw others to Him.  We shun perfectionism, it makes men miserable, but we are not to be lazy and unfaithful in our work.

 Neither did we eat any man's bread for nought; but wrought with labour and travail night and day, that we might not be chargeable to any of you: Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us. For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.

   Idleness is a problem.  It is good to have faith, it’s an absolute necessity, but it is impossible to have faith without the willingness to do the work God has enabled us to do.  James was  clear about that.  In this world there are many that choose to take advantage rather than to contribute, that’s not the example set for us by Christ or in the scripture.  With age, illness, and situation our ability to work changes, but what we can do, we should do.  This passage speaks of busybodies, more churches have been destroyed by gossip than by any other means, if we applied ourselves to doing what God would have us do, there would be a lot less time to criticise each other.  Nothing stays the same in the world God made, we are either building up, or tearing down.  We are either growing in our faith, or falling away.  

  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.(Colossians 3:23-24)Our work is never about how great we are or about how much we can prosper from others. It is not about gaining wealth or making a name for ourselves. Our work is ultimately an opportunity to be in fellowship with God.  God is a God of commitment.  He wants His children to be “all in.”  The priority of our work is to share how good and how magnificent He is.  We do that by considering our labor worship.  Don’t work for a paycheck, work as a testimony.

  Paul points out that there were many disorderly activities that could hinder the spread of the gospel. Gossip, taking advantage of others, selfishness nor  greed are the works of a christian.   

In summary,  our work is not our ticket to Heaven but a result of our acceptance of Jesus as our Savior.  He is our pattern, our purpose, and our Lord. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9).  Our work is to show  by our words and actions, that there is a much greater reason for living, and a much higher being who is in charge.  Loving God, loving our neighbor, good stewardship, taking care of the poor and weak, and showing others salvation found in Jesus are the greatest works.  The works that we do to bring souls to Jesus, that work is never futile.  We are to abound in these works in joy knowing that our souls have been redeemed and so our lives have new purpose.